Snow brings joy, light, and traffic problems to Southern Finland

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Jim Berg, Tomi Norring, and Arttu Sarekoski, third graders at the Steiner School in Espoo, were diving into day-old snow in Olari, on the edges of Espoo's Central Park on Monday.
      Snow stuck to their faces, and found its way into the sleeves of their jackets, and down their backs.
      "We simply could not stay inside on a day like this", said physical education Raija Granroth.
      Winter snow came to the Helsinki reason for a second time within about two months. About five centimetres of light powdery snow fell in the region on Sunday night and Monday.
      Milder temperatures are expected later in the week at least in coastal areas.
     
A fresh blanket of snow has a psychologically uplifting effect, says Timo Partonen, a researcher at the National Public Health Institute. "The increased light raises the level of mental agility in the short term."
      Partonen says that fresh snow reflects as much as 80 per cent of the light that falls on it. The boost is temporary, however, as slushy and dirty snow will reflect only 30 per cent of the light.
      "People grow accustomed to the increased light in a couple of days. A longer-lasting effect requires regular increases in light, for our internal clocks to grow accustomed to it."
      Partonen says that those who suffer from seasonal depression caused by lack of light usually find relief in February.
     
On Monday morning there were only a few snow-covered cars, and fresh ski tracks at the parking area of the Oittaa Sports Centre. The tracks led to the shore of Lake Bodom.
      Skiing on the track were Onni Suvisaari, 4, and his sister Elina, 6. They had come from the nearby Espoo district of Gumböle to test the new skis that Santa had brought them.
      On the shore there is a slide, and next to it, mother Anne Suvisaari helped the children undo the bindings of their skis. The children's overalls slide well in the freezing temperature. "It just seems that this winter is so short", Anne laments.
     
Less appreciative of the snow were motorists. Traffic was slow and there were a number of collisions during the Monday morning rush hour in the Helsinki area, and other parts of the south of Finland. However, no serious injuries were reported.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  December in Helsinki was unusually dark (4.1.2007)

Links:
  Finnish Meteorological Institute

Helsingin Sanomat